Human remains — hundreds of years old — found by group of rice harvesters, MN cops say
A group of rice harvesters stumbled upon human remains that dated back several hundred years, Minnesota deputies said.
The skeletal remains belonged to at least three people, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribal Police Department said in a joint Sept. 4 news release. They are believed to be several hundred years old, officials said.
The wild ricers discovered the remains on Aug. 31 in an area of Gould Township with a Native American cultural site, according to the news release, then contacted officials.
Multiple wild rice beds exist along the lake, according to the Ojibwe tribe’s website. The harvesting season began on Aug. 15, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Deputies have not disclosed the exact location as they investigate.
The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council is also involved in the investigation and worked with deputies to secure the remains, according to the news release.
Officials say they intend to preserve the remains and restore them in a “culturally appropriate manner,” according to the release.
“In doing so, this ensures vital evidence is preserved, along with being respectful of those who were here before us,” officials said in the news release.
Gould Township is about a 200-mile drive northwest from Minneapolis.
This story was originally published September 5, 2024 at 2:26 PM with the headline "Human remains — hundreds of years old — found by group of rice harvesters, MN cops say."
